Feb. 10, 2006

Philip Morris presents check to VCU Career Center

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By Tom Gresham

Debbie Weber, vice president and general manager of Philip Morris USA, presents a check for $25,000 to a VCU contingent that includes (from left) board member Stuart Siegel, President Eugene Trani, Rector Edward Bersoff and board member Tom Snead. Photo courtesy University Career Center
Debbie Weber, vice president and general manager of Philip Morris USA, presents a check for $25,000 to a VCU contingent that includes (from left) board member Stuart Siegel, President Eugene Trani, Rector Edward Bersoff and board member Tom Snead. Photo courtesy University Career Center

For the second consecutive year, officials from Philip Morris USA visited Virginia Commonwealth University to present a check to the school’s Career Center.

The $25,000 Aid in Education grant will enable the Career Center to promote the development of future leaders in business and industry. Susan Story, director of the Career Center, said funds will go toward developing student leadership training, initiating a speaker’s bureau, introducing a peer educator’s program and expanding outreach to international students.

“This grant gives us additional resources to increase the visibility of the Career Center across the campus,” Story said.

Philip Morris has provided co-op and internship experience to more than 140 VCU students. Greg Moody, Steve Bazemore and Anthony Kieu, three former VCU engineering students who turned co-op positions at Philip Morris into full-time jobs with the company, attended the ceremony. The trio was among the Philip Morris representatives to speak with VCU students following the ceremony during an information session about employment opportunities.

Debbie Weber, vice president and general manager of Philip Morris USA, said VCU graduates had proven to be reliable employees.

“We look for quality students for our jobs, and we have been very pleased with the quality of the students we have received from VCU,” Weber said.

VCU President Eugene P. Trani thanked Philip Morris for its largesse and noted that VCU and Philip Morris have long enjoyed strong ties.

“We have a great partnership that goes back many, many years,” Trani said.

Among the other VCU officials in attendance were Henry Rhone, vice provost for student affairs; Edward Bersoff, rector of the VCU Board of Visitors; and VCU board members Tom Snead and Stuart Siegel.

The VCU Career Center provides free services to students and recent alumni, including help in selecting a major, resume planning, interview strategies and locating internship and co-op opportunities. For more information about the VCU Career Center, visit http://www.students.vcu.edu/careers/.

Philip Morris USA is an operating company of Altria Group Inc. Philip Morris USA’s offices and facilities include headquarters, manufacturing, processing and support facilities in the Richmond area.